Charge Your Car Battery or Drive Your Car (Page 4): Each year I’m usually in South Africa for six months and the UK for six months. Whilst I’m away I keep vehicle batteries on four...

Canonuser Loc: UK and South Africa

Each year I’m usually in South Africa for six months and the UK for six months. Whilst I’m away I keep vehicle batteries on four vehicles attached to one of these conditioning devices. They are not chargers in the true sense of the word. The just sit there monitoring the condition of a battery. When the on board devices, e.g. clocks and alarms use power and the level of charge drops, these devices kick in and gently lift the level of charge back to almost fully charged. Then they switch off and again monitor the battery until the charge level falls. I’ve been using them for many years without a single failure.

accumate battery conditioning float charger

FL Streetrodder

jerryc41 wrote:

A couple of friends had their car batteries go dead because of lack of use. There is always a drain on batteries while they are in the car.

I have two vehicles, my toys, that don't see everyday or frequent use and have battery tenders installed on each. These tenders supply a constant trickle charge as need and are able to monitor the status of the battery and are relatively inexpensive to purchase. However, I would not recommend the $4.99 ones offered at Harbor Freight, based on my past experience they don't function very well and fail completely in a short time. NAPA stores sell their own brand and the Schumacher brand is the other one that I currently use with good results. These battery minders will greatly extend the life of a battery.

FL Streetrodder

I have two vehicles, my toys, that don't see everyday or frequent use and have battery tenders installed on each. These tenders supply a constant trickle charge as need and are able to monitor the status of the battery and are relatively inexpensive to purchase. However, I would not recommend the $4.99 ones offered at Harbor Freight, based on my past experience they don't function very well and fail completely in a short time. NAPA stores sell their own brand and the Schumacher brand is the other one that I currently use with good results. These battery minders will greatly extend the life of a battery.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

TriX wrote:

I wonder about that. Say it takes 200 amps worst case to turn the starter and it takes 10 seconds to start. Most modern alternators are rated from 70-100+ amps. Assuming it takes 20 amps to run the ignition and other automotive systems (which is probably high if the headlights are off) it still shouldn’t take more than a minute to replenish the charge. What do you think?

200 amps is probably high when starting an engine that is in good shape. Maybe that high for a diesel engine. I would guess it was around that level for the 65hp diesel tractor I had with a weak battery. When it sat overnight, the battery wouldn't turn the engine. Jumper cables would not handle the starting current, probably not because of the cables but because of the clamps and corrosion on the terminals. But a couple minutes of jumper cable charging would usually provide the weak battery with enough charge to start the tractor.

Tractor batteries cost over $200. A portative charger cost about $65. I used it that way for a couple years. Just had to plan ahead in the morning.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

I have had a variety of cars over the years, both domestic and imports. My general experience is that batteries seem to last 48-60 months and regardless of use, they get weaker and at some point need a 'jump' to start the car...often just a cold night is enough to make a difference. When this happens, it is time to buy a new one.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

FL Streetrodder wrote:

... However, I would not recommend the $4.99 ones offered at Harbor Freight, based on my past experience they don't function very well and fail completely in a short time. NAPA stores sell their own brand and the Schumacher brand is the other one that I currently use with good results. These battery minders will greatly extend the life of a battery.

Hmmm - maybe you got a bad one...
I've been using the HF $5 ones for over 10 years and have not had a failure yet. My lawn tractors/mowers have them put on in the fall and removed in the spring - results are fully charged batteries. My farm tractor and camper have them put on when not in use - anywhere from 3mo's to 6mo's at a shot. I also use one on a deer feeder (modified to be a pet feeder) battery that has been hooked up for the last 3 years with no issues.

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

dennis2146 wrote:

Yes Jerry I agree but that doesn't answer my question of whether it is a good idea to put a battery charger on a brand new battery and then keep it plugged in when the vehicle is not going to be used for a week.

Dennis

That is major overkill. Maybe if 6 weeks in very cold or very hot conditions. That said most battery maintainers have a plug that Jan be hardwired to the battery so plunging it in for a day or so then moving the charger to your next similarly wired vehicle is very simple. I do this on my fleet of motorcycles, cars and atv. After a month or so do the same rotation again.

Sendai5355 Loc: On the banks of the Pedernales River, Texas

Before I went out of the country for 8 months, I disconnected my car's battery. When I returned home, I reconnected the battery and the car started immediately. Wal-Mart battery.

HOHIMER

jerryc41 wrote:

When JC Penny sold batteries, I had one with a Lifetime Guarantee. The battery failed, and they gave me a new one. Good deal.

I had one of these also. When JC Penny went under, Firestone took over the JC penny life time warranty contract. I think I got at least 4 batteries out of them for my old '71 Chevy truck.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

DirtFarmer wrote:

200 amps is probably high when starting an engine ... (show quote)

Yep, because of the high compression ratio, diesels require a hefty battery to supply the higher starting current. The battery in my 14 year old gas MB is the same one used in the diesels, which I think is one reason it’s lasted since new - it is a BIG AGM battery.

Even at 100 amps, just 0.1 ohms of resistance is enough to drop 10 volts, so it doesn’t take much resistance from corrosion at the terminals to prevent starting.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

jerryc41 wrote:

A couple of friends had their car batteries go dead because of lack of use. There is always a drain on batteries while they are in the car.

I drive a bit, Changes the tire location on the ground, gets fluids moving, etc.

Tony.mustang

jerryc41 wrote:

A couple of friends had their car batteries go dead because of lack of use. There is always a drain on batteries while they are in the car.

Hi when I know I am not going to use my car for several weeks just disconnect the negative cable and when your ready to go again re install and your battery will start your car right up

SHUTERED Loc: SO. CAL.

Ahh, WE forget today that if the ignition of a vehicle is turned off, todays modern cars are not just sitting there doing nothing. The battery is supplying juice to something all the time. Depending how much you invested in the vehicle, determines how much current is being consumed. Starting with your remote. Something is waiting for its signal, a receiver. Think about the computers that require a constant electrical charge or they dump all the information stored on engine performance, transmission etc. All the way down to tire pressure. If this happens it takes about 50 miles or so to re-establish a data base in them. I know this all to well as I've let the battery go dead a few times. One time, I was going to try and get my truck smogged, eh- eh. No data on the computers. Was told to drive it around for about 100 miles and bring it back for a re-test.

danbir1 Loc: North Potomac, MD

dpfoto wrote:

When I needed a new battery for my Toyota Sienna, I went to the local Toyota dealer. I know I could have paid quite a bit less elsewhere, but this one has a lifetime warranty. That way I should never have to pay for another battery as long as I have this vehicle.

I am servicing cars for many years and have never seen a "lifetime" warranty on a battery, call the dealer and find out what he means by "lifetime". (Do you really think they'll supply you with a new battery every so many years when the one you bought from them has died??)
Most good batteries have a 3 years period of a free replacement and after that you pay a prorated amount of money according to the length of usage, there are tables for that.

danbir1 Loc: North Potomac, MD

jerryc41 wrote:

When JC Penny sold batteries, I had one with a Lifetime Guarantee. The battery failed, and they gave me a new one. Good deal.

How long before it failed?
Most batteries carry 2 or 3 years warranty on them and after that you pay a prorated price.